CALGARY, AB - Steve Tambellini, Canada's 2002-2003 National Men's Team and World Championship team General Manager, announced on Wednesday, the appointments of assistant coaches, including 5-time Stanley Cup Champion Doug Jarvis, for three different international events: Swiss Challenge (exhibition game), the Deutschland Cup, and the Spengler Cup working under Head Coaches Gary Green and Mike Pelino.

The coaching staffs for these events will be:

• Swiss Challenge Head Coach - Gary Green Assistant Coaches - Mike Kelly and Kent Ruhnke

• Deutschland Cup Head Coach - Gary Green Assistant Coaches - Mike Kelly and Chris Valentine

• Spengler Cup Head Coach - Mike Pelino Assistant Coaches - Doug Jarvis and Jim Koleff

The Swiss Challenge is an exhibition game in Bern, Switzerland (CAN vs. SUI) played November 5th, 2002 prior to the Deutschland Cup held in Hanover, Germany November 8-10, 2002. Both of these events will be led by Head Coach Gary Green, a veteran TSN television commentator and hockey analyst. Mike Pelino, in his fourth season as Associate Coach / Assistant General Manager of Canada's National Men's Team, will lead Canada behind the bench for the second straight year at the 2002 Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland December 26-31.

Jarvis, who will assist Pelino at the Spengler Cup, was an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars from 1988-2002 (1988-1993 in Minnesota), won a Stanley Cup in 1999 and was a Stanley Cup finalist in 19. During his impressive playing career, Jarvis won four Stanley Cups from 1976-1979 with the Montreal Canadiens, captured the Bill Masterton Trophy in 1987, the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 1984 and currently holds the NHL record for the most consecutive games played, with 964.
Canada's National Junior Team assistant coach Mike Kelly, who was Head Coach of the OHL's North Bay Centennials last season and is currently scouting for Canada's National Junior Team in preparation for the 2003 World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, will assist Green at both the Swiss Challenge and the Deutschland Cup.

Valentine, Krefeld Pinguines' (German Elite League) Head Coach, joins Team Canada with six years of Head Coaching experience in the German Elite League, which included Coach-of-the-Year honours with Düsseldorf in 1997-98. Valentine spent three seasons in the NHL with the Washington Capitals, setting a Capitals rookie record (tied with Bob Carpenter) for most points in a season with 67 points in 1981-82. Chris also played in the German Elite League (1984-96), capturing the league title five times and the scoring title five times.

Ruhnke, who is Head Coach of SC Bern (Swiss Elite League), is in his 15th year of coaching and has captured two Swiss Elite League "B" Division championships as well as two "A" Division championships as a coach with Biel in 1983 and Zurich in 2000.

Koleff, who was drafted in the 8th round of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, has been Lugano's Head Coach for the past six years, winning a league championship in 1998-99 and finishing second twice (1999-2000, 2000-2001). Jim played from 1973-1977 making stops in Flint (IHL) and Dallas (CHL) before heading to Europe. In Europe, Koleff played for 15 seasons in Italy, Germany and Switzerland before joining the coaching ranks.

Canada's rosters for the three events will be primarily made up of Canadian born players playing in Europe or players on loan from their NHL affiliates.

Canada's support staffs for these events will be:

• Swiss Challenge and Deutschland Cup: Dr. Jim Thorne (Team Doctor); Gord Rutledge (Athletic Therapist) Jeff Lang (Equipment Manager)

• Spengler Cup: Dr. Jim Thorne (Team Doctor); Pat Clayton (Athletic Therapist); Jeff Lang (Equipment Manager)